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Three Distinctions: Spiritual Direction, Supervision, and Consultation School of Spiritual Direction SDS: Spiritual Direction Supervision

Introduction !  Within a compassionate, contemplative approach, spiritual direction, supervision, and consultation have some similarities, as well as some differences. !  It is important to know the distinctions between these three particular modalities to make better use of what each can provide and to honor the limitations of each. !  The next three slides address a few of those similarities and differences. !  The final slide consists of a table that briefly describes the focus, the purpose, and the process related to each modality.

Some Similarities and Differences ! Spiritual direction, supervision, and consultation are concerned with the individual’s faith life: ! In spiritual direction the focus is on the faith life of the directee ! In supervision the focus is on the faith life of the director as a spiritual director ! “In spiritual direction the director concentrates on the experiences of directees with God and on their resistance to those experiences. In the same way, the supervisor of spiritual directors concentrates on their experiences as directors and the lived beliefs that color their responses to their directees.” – Barry and Connolly ! In consultation, the focus is on specific aspects of the directee’s faith life that the director needs particular assistance in addressing (e.g., an ethical question or concern, when a suggestion for a prayer practice might be advisable, how to address certain concerns the directee might have, etc.)

Some Similarities and Differences ! Spiritual direction, supervision, and consultation rely on the lived experience of the individual: ! In spiritual direction, the essential ingredient is the directee’s lived experience of and with God ! In supervision, the essential ingredient is the director’s lived experience with their directee in the course of doing spiritual direction ! In consultation, the essential ingredient is the directee’s particular area of struggle in their lived experience of and with God that may require more more skills, creative thinking, or information than the director presently possesses on his or her own.

Some Similarities and Difference ! Spiritual direction, supervision, and consultation necessitate a clear focus: ! In spiritual direction, not focusing on the religious dimension of the directee’s experience may inhibit their deepening relationship with God ! In supervision, not focusing on director’s experience of giving direction may inhibit their growth as a spiritual director ! In consultation, not clearly stating and understanding the issue or problem that the director sees in the directee’s experience will inhibit the ability of supervisor and director to effectively and collaboratively identify possible ways of addressing the issue

!! SPIRITUAL DIRECTION! SUPERVISION! CONSULTATION!FOCUS! On the Directee: Directee’s relationship with God and prayer life, interior movements in the service of discernment!On the Director: Director’s interior movements, reactions, thoughts, feelings, embodied feedback, verbalizations !On a Problem: A specific or particular problem or issue related to the Directee!PURPOSE! To accompany the Directee in deepening their friendship and intimacy with God: increasing in awareness of how God communicates with the DIrectee personally and directly and nurturing a greater interior freedom from which flows a personal, heart-felt response.!To assist the Director in recognizing, being with, and exploring areas of challenge, potentially hidden disordered attachments, and growing edges so the Director can enter into greater freedom and become more helpful in promoting the Directee’s relationship with God. !To provide a sounding board for the Director, to help them address a specific issue or problem that the Directee is or might be facing.!PROCESS! The process of spiritual direction is a “prayer process in which a person seeking help in cultivating a deeper personal relationship with God meets with another for prayer and conversation that is focused on increasing awareness of God in the midst of life experiences and facilitating surrender to God’s will” – D. Benner!“A contemplative supervisory process is much like a dance where the partners move between silence, word, and silence, and it is the discernment of the movements of the Spirit which guides the rhythm of the dance steps.” –M. McDonnell!Within the contemplative space of supervision, the process of consultation shifts to a collaborative interaction in which the Supervisor and Director explore together a particular need, problem or issue that Directee has that is perceived by the Director with which the Director needs guidance. Three Distinctions (*to be used for the Lectio assignment)